From loss to love: 90-year-old’s knitting touches local families

90-year-old Velda Parenuik sits in her crafting corner, where she creates handmade gifts for children and families. March 26, 2026 (Lauren Stallone/CTV News London)

90-year-old Velda Parenuik knows first-hand that sometimes life can feel like one big knot.

“I only had one son, I wanted more,” said Parenuik. “I actually got pregnant five times, but I lost them all.”

She said she always dreamed of having a big family, but following a series of miscarriages, Parenuik knew it wasn’t meant to be.

“I kind of wished for children to always be around me,” she said. “This way I can always give them gifts.”

That’s exactly what Parenuik did.

“The favourite thing that I make is the baby dresses, they take awhile,” said Parenuik, “and baby blankets.”

Parenuik has made more than 65 hand-knit items for children at London’s Children’s Hospital and My Sister’s Place of London.

“Sometimes when I’m knitting a little hat, I think of a little baby and how cute they would be,” said Parenuik.

Shannon Maier, VP of Children’s Hospital said donations like these are an ‘incredible example’ of the community wrapping ‘care and kindness’ around patients.

“Knitted hats in labour and delivery for example, seems to be a small token,” said Maier. “But they provide warmth in a newborn’s earliest days and hours.”

While Parenuik’s family didn’t grow the way she had hoped, her love continues to make an impact, one stitch at a time.

“There’s nothing more relaxing than sitting in my lazy boy chair with a couple of knitting needles,” laughed Parenuik.